Seidelman Garners WMRA Opener!

 

April 12

By Dolan Lannan

 

Tony Seidelman, in the Manners Hawk/Sage Gaerte took the lead from the pole position and was never headed in the 30 lap WMRA opener Saturday at South Sound Speedway.  Brea Lopez took second place over Evan Margeson. 

 

On an unseasonally warm day, 2007 WMRA Champion Evan Margeson in the familiar Harold and Verda Beal Beast/Pink Ford bested the field in qualifying with a 13.159 time.  Due to time constraints, the A and B dashes were scrapped.  

 

In the first heat race, Seidelman jumped to the lead over pole sitter Darren Linder and led every lap for the win.  Linder, in the family TCR/Fontana was second followed by sprint car ace Quick Rick Brown.  Brown was in the Tom Maples #98 Beast/Pink Ford, substituting for Chris Petersen who is recovering from a shoulder injury.  Rookie Kerstin Smutny was fourth.

 

The second heat saw Brea Lopez in the Dan Press Beast/Esslinger jump to the lead from the pole.  She was pressured by Margeson until lap six of the eight lap event when Margeson attempted an outside pass, only to have 2006 WMRA Champ, Spence Gatrell slip underneath for second place.  Margeson was third followed by one of four WMRA rookies present, Mark Atkinson.

 

On lap one of the feature, Gatrell, driving the family Hawk/Esslinger, and Lopez got together, resulting in both stopping and Gatrell unable to rejoin the field.  On the restart, pole sitter Seidelman jumped to the lead followed closely by Lopez and Margeson.  Darren Linder was fourth followed by Atkinson in the Atkinson Lighting Beast/Esslinger and Rick Brown.  Lopez remained in striking distance of Seidelman while Margeson was putting constant pressure on Lopez.  About mid race Margeson faded a bit, due to a blistered tire. A little further back, Linder, Atkinson and Brown were having a great battle for fourth.  Atkinson tried everything to get by Linder with Brown sticking his nose in to the battle every couple of laps.  Brown dropped out on the 24^th lap and Atkinson finally got under Linder two laps later.  At the finish, Seidelman won his second ever WMRA feature, followed by Lopez, Margeson, Atkinson and Linder.  Kerstin Smutney, in the other Atkinson entry finished sixth.

WMRA will return to South Sound on May 3.

1.         Evan Margeson, 50,         13.159
2.         Spence Gatrell, 8             13.207
3.         Mark Atkinson, 23           13.312

4.         Brea Lopez, 25                 13.324
5.         Tony Seidelman, 44         13.434
6.         Rick Brown, 98                13.484
7.         Darren Linder, 6              13.924

8.         Kerstin Smutny, 23          14.316
9.         Mitch Hoffses, 5               16.894
10.       Dave Hoene, 24                NT

 

Heat #1

 

1. Seidelman, 2. Linder, 3. Brown, 4. Smutny

 

Heat #2

 

1. Lopez, 2. Gatrell, 3. Margeson, 4. Atkinson

 

Main Event

 

1. Seidelman, 2. Lopez, 3. Margeson, 4. Atkinson, 5. Linder, 6. Smutny, 7. Brown, 8. Gatrell

 

 

 

 

Atkinson Wins in Second Start

 

May 3

 

By Dolan Lannan

 

It has been more than twenty years since a rookie won a feature event in the Washington Midget Racing Association.  Mark Atkinson, in the Atkinson Racing Beast/Esslinger took full advantage of his pole position to do just that Saturday at South Sound Speedway in only his second ever WMRA start and fourth ever full midget feature.  “My arms are tired, I was really holding on.” stated Atkinson after the race.

 

Earlier, a fast time of 13.155 was set by Evan Margeson in the Harold and Verda Beal #50.  The trophy dashes were cancelled and there was only one heat race due to the constant threat of rain throughout the evening. 

 

On the first lap of the ten lap heat race, there was a skirmish in turn one.  Spence Gatrell in The Gatrell family Hawk/Esslinger, Mitch Hoffses in Karl Hoffses’ Hawk Gaerte and Atkinson all ended up halted.  All were able to restart.  On the restart, Darren Linder took the lead in the Linder TCR/Fontana.  Atkinson moved to second place by the end of the first lap followed by Brea Lopez in the familiar Dan Press #25, and points leader Tony Seidelman in the Randy Manners Gaerte/Hawk in fourth.  The top five remained the same until a lap six yellow when Lopez and Seidelman got together in turn two, spinning Lopez and sending the injured Seidelman car hard into the turn three wall, ending his night.  On the restart Linder led over Atkinson and Gatrell.  On lap seven Atkinson got by by Linder for the lead.  At the finish it was Atkinson, Gatrell, Hoffses and Margeson.

 

With a few rain drops falling, the feature event was shortened to 25 laps.  An invert of four put Atkinson on the pole, starting inside Gatrell.  Atkinson got the jump to lead lap one over Gatrell, Lopez, Margeson and Rick Brown, making his second start in the beautiful Tom Maples Beast/Pink #98.  They were followed by Hoffses, Linder, and Kerstin Smutny in the other Atkinson Racing entry.  Evan Margeson, who started  outside row two, battled third starter Brea Lopez for several laps, the two running side by side until Margeson was able to pull off the pass going into turn one.  Atkinson gradually built a slight lead over Gatrell, who was then experiencing constant pressure from Margeson.  By the 22^nd  lap Atkinson’s lead was about six car lengths but things changed on the next lap.  While Atkinson was slowed slightly by a lapped car, Margeson’s pressure on Gattrell finally paid off as he took over second and rapidly narrowed the gap between him and Atkinson.  Atkinson was able to get by one more lapped car on the last lap and he took the checkered with Margeson right behind him.    They were followed by Gatrell, Lopez, Brown, Hoffses in his first ever midget start, Linder and Smutny.  The race was uninterrupted by yellow flags and all the starters were able to finish.

 

Qualifying:  1. Evan Margeson, Beal #50 – 13:15, 2. Brea Lopez, Press #25 - 13:20, 3. Spence Gatrell,  Gatrell #8- 13:37, 4. Mark Atkinson, Atkinson #23 – 13:51, 5. Rick Brown, Maples #98 – 13:55, 6.  Tony Seidelman, Manners #44 – 13:62, 7. Mitch Hoffses, Hoffses #5 – 13:64, 8. Darren Linder, Linder #6 – 13:78, 9. Kerstin Smutny, Atkinson #9 – 14:35.

 

Heat: 1. Atkinson, Gatrell, Hoffses, Margeson, Lopez, Linder, Brown, Smutny, Seidelman. 

 

Main Event:  1. Atkinson, 2. Margeson, 3. Gatrell, 4. Lopez, 5. Brown, 6. Hoffses, 7. Linder, 8. Smutny.

 

 

Margeson Gets Win at South Sound

 

 May 31

 

by Dolan Lannan

 

Fast qualifier Evan Margeson in the familiar Beal #50 passed Tony Seidelman on lap eight of the WMRA feature on Saturday and never looked back to gain his first win of the 2008 season.

 

2007 WMRA Champion, Margeson started the day at South Sound Speedway in Rochester, Washington with a fast time of 13.221 in qualifying, followed closely by Spence Gatrell in the Steve Gatrell #8 and Tony Seidelman. 

 

The B dash was won by Darren Linder followed closely by a hard charging Rick Brown and Kerstin Smutny.  Dallas Melby was making his 2008 WMRA debut in the Maples #51 Stealth/Fontana.  He was unable to start the dash because of mechanical bugs that challenged the team all evening. 

 

The A dash saw pole sitter Brea Lopez in the Press #25 lead all four laps followed by back row starter, Gatrell, Seidelman in the Manners #44 and Margeson.

 

In the eight lap heat race, Lopez moved up rapidly from her outside row three starting spot to gain second place on lap one.  A daring move past polesitter Linder for the lead on lap two gave her the lead but led to a spin between turns one and two.  On the restart, Linder chose to go to the rear, leaving rookie mark Atkinson in the Atkinson Racing #23 in front.  Atkinson was pressured by Gatrell with Margeson putting equal pressure on Gatrell.  The battle for second wasn’t resolved until the last lap when Margeson was able to slip by Gatrell.  Fourth place was Rick Brown in the Maples #98 followed by Seidelman, Kerstin Smutny in the other Atkinson Racing entry and Linder in the Del Linder #6.

 

In the thirty lap feature, Seidelman got the jump from his outside front row spot to take the lead over pole sitter Lopez.  Margeson, coming form the outside of row two followed him and was in second place by the end of the first lap.  They were followed by Lopez, Gatrell, Atkinson and Brown.  The two biggest battles on the track at this point were between Seidelman and Margeson for the lead and the fourth place battle between Gatrell and Atkinson. 

 

On lap four Atkinson was able to nab fourth spot from Gatrell,  On lap five Melby dropped out, the only car unable to finish the race.  Three laps later, Margeson slipped under Seidelman in turn one and steadily distanced himself from the rest of the field.  The first of only two yellows occurred on lap 17 when Lopez spun in turn two while running in third.   

On the restart the order was Margeson, Seidelman, Atkinson, Gatrell, Brown, Linder, Smutny and Lopez.  For nine laps, while Margeson once again added to his advantage, the winners of the first two 2008 WMRA events, Seidelman and Atkinson, battled for second place with Seidelman holding the edge.  On lap 26 the two got together, resulting in both drivers coming to a stop on the track. 

 

At the end, Margeson, who has already competed with five midget associations in 2008, won easily followed by Gatrell, Brown and Lopez.  They were followed by Linder, Seidelman, Atkinson and Smutny, all on the lead lap.

 

Qualifying:  1. Evan Margeson, Beal #50 – 13:221, 2. Spence Gatrell,  Gatrell #8- 13:295, 3. Tony Seidelman, Manners #44 – 13:406, 4. Brea Lopez, Press #25 - 13:425, 5. Mark Atkinson, Atkinson #23 – 13:466, 6. Rick Brown, Maples #98 – 13:707 , 7. Darren Linder, Linder #6 – 13:760, 8.Kerstin Smutny, Atkinson #9 – 14:016 , 9. Dallas Melby, Maples #51 - 14.648

 

B dash: 1. Linder, 2. Brown, 3. Smutny

 

A dash: 1. Lopez, 2. Gatrell, 3. Seidelman, 4. Margeson

 

Heat: Atkinson, Margeson, Gatrell, Brown, Seidelman, Lopez, Smutny, Linder

 

Main Event:  1. Margeson, 2. Gatrell, 3. Brown, 4. Lopez, 5. Linder, 6. Seidelman, 7. Atkinson, 8. Smutny, 9. Melby

 

Margeson Repeats at Ephrata

 

June 14

 

by Dolan Lannan

 

Evan Margeson drove the Harold and Verda Beal to his second consecutive victory Saturday in WMRA action at Ephrata Raceway Park.  Margeson passed leader Kerstin Smutny on lap four and dominated the rest of the event.

 

The day started with Margeson setting fast time with a 13.106 lap.  Margeson has out qualified the field at all four WMRA events of 2008. 

 

In the B trophy dash, Paul Dart, in his first ever midget race, driving the Allen Dixon #29, drove underneath Darren Linder on lap three for the win.  He was followed by Troy Globe in his dad’s #11 Blue Dot/Ford Focus, Linder and Kerstin Smutny in the Atkinson Racing #9.

 

The A dash saw Brea Lopez in the Press #25 win after leading every lap for her second A dash win a row.  She was followed across the line by Tony Seidelman in the Manners #44, Mark Atkinson and Margeson.

 

Dave Hoene  in his #24 Hawk/VW brought the field down for the start of the eight lap B heat.  Darren Linder in the family TCR/Fontana took the lead from his outside front row starting position and led every lap for the in.  He was challenged by second place Globe.  They were followed by Dan Fisher in the Voss #45 and Smutny.

 

In the A heat, Seidelman lead every lap for the win.  Margeson was second, and Atkinson in the Atkinson Racing #23 was third.  Lopez got by Rick Brown in the #98 Tom Maples entry on the last lap for fourth.

 

At the start of the feature, Tony Seidelman made a bold move from his outside second row starting spot to briefly lead the field.  But there just wasn’t enough grip for him in the slippery second groove and he faded to fourth by the end of the lap and was in fifth after two laps were complete.  Two women set the pace for the first three laps of the race.  A surprising Kerstin Smutny darted out from her pole staring spot and developed about a two car length advantage over second running Brea Lopez.  On lap three Margeson got by Lopez and quickly closed the gap on Smutny getting by her on the next lap.  On the next circuit Lopez, Atkinson and Seidelman were all able to wrestle their way by Smutny. 

 

Margeson gradually increased his lead in the caution free event, while Atkinson did what he could to past Lopez for second.  At the fifteen lap mark Margeson had a comfortable lead over Lopez, Atkinson, Seidelman, Smutny, and Brown.  Following them were fifteen year old Logan Forler, piloting the Steve Forler Beast/Pink Ford #22 in seventh position, Dart, Globe and Fisher and Linder. Atkinson’s persistence paid off on lap seventeen when he was able to get by Lopez. 

 

A little further back Smutny, Brown and Forler were having a battle with both Brown and Forler getting by Smutny on lap 24 and Forler passing Brown four laps later.  By this time Margeson had lapped the field all the way up to fifth place Forler.  Margeson was unable to lap Forler for te remainder of the event allowing Atkinson to erase some of Margeson’s lead but the laps ran out before Atkinson could mount a serious challenge.  The race ended with Lopez in third, Seidelman fourth and Forler in fifth.  They were followed under the checkered flag by Brown, Smutny, Dart, Fisher, Linder and Globe.  All the cars were running at the end of the yellow flag free race.

 

Qualifying:  1. Evan Margeson, Beal #50 – 13:106, 2. Mark Atkinson,  Atkinson #23- 13:172, 3. Tony Seidelman, Manners #44 – 13:373, 4. Brea Lopez, Press #25 - 13:479, 5. Rick Brown, Maples #98 – 13:728   6. Logan Forler, Forler  #22 – 13:778, , 7. Paul Dart, Dixon #29 – 14:029, 8.Kerstin Smutny, Atkinson #9 – 14:284 , 9. Troy Globe, Globe - 14.284, 10. Darren Linder, Linder #6 – 14.360, 11. Dan Fisher, Voss #45 – 14.362, 12. Dave Hoene, Hoene #24 – 15.019

 

B dash: 1. Dart, 2. Globe, 3. Linder, 4. Smutny

 

A dash: 1. Lopez, 2. Seidelman, 3. Atkinson,  4. Margeson

 

B heat: 1. Linder, 2. Globe, 3. Fisher, 4. Smutny, 5. Hoene

 

A heat: 1. Seidelman, 2. Margeson, 3. Atkinson, 4. Lopez, 5, Brown, 6. Forler

 

Main Event:  1. Margeson, 2. Atkinson, 3. Lopez, 4.  Seidelman, 5. Forler, 6. Brown, 7. Smutny, 8. Dart, 9. Fisher, 10. Linder,  11. Globe

 

 

Atkinson Wins Again at South Sound

 

June 28

 

By Dolan Lannan

 

After battling with Brea Lopez for over half the race, seventeen year old rookie, Mark Atkinson came home with his second WMRA victory of the season Saturday at South Sound Speedway.

 

Earlier in the evening, Atkinson, in the Atkinson Racing #23 was fast qualifier over Spence Gatrell in Steve Gatrell’s #8 entry and Lopez.  This was the first time this season that Evan Margeson did not have fast time honors as 2007 WMRA Champion, Margeson, competed in the USAC West race in Altamont, California.

 

Only one trophy dash was run for the midgets.  2006 WMRA Champion, Spence Gatrell came from the back row and passed Tony Seidelman in the Randy Manners #44 for the lead on lap two and led the remaining two rounds for the win.  He was followed across the stripe by Atkinson and Lopez in the Dan Press #25 entry.

 

In the first heat, polesitter Dan Fisher in the yellow #45 Dick Voss car led the field into turn one.  By the end of the first lap, the #5 Karl Hoffses car with fifteen year old Mitch Hoffses at the wheel, had come from his outside row three starting position to take over second spot.  Fisher continued to lead until lap three when Hoffses slipped by him, with Darren Linder in the #6 entry in third.  Another fifteen year old, Logan Forler in the Steve Forler #22 got by Linder for third on lap five and moved around Fisher for second place a lap later.  Hoffses led the rest of the way, followed at the end by Forler, Fisher, Linder, Dave Hoene in his #24 VW, and Kerstin Smutny in the other Atkinson Racing entry.

 

The A heat had plenty of tight racing but little passing.  Rick Brown in the Maples #98 took the lead from the pole followed by outside row one starter Seidelman.  Brea Lopez was third followed by Gatrell and Atkinson.  On lap two, Atkinson was able to get by Gatrell only to have Gatrell return the favor on the last lap.  The race ended with Brown in the lead followed by Seidelman, Lopez, Gatrell and Atkinson.

 

In the feature event, Dave Hoene led the pack to the green.  After some three wide racing at the start, Dan Fisher and Logan Forler ended up stopped high in turn one.  While under caution Rick Brown pulled into the pits with an overheating problem. On the restart there was more three abreast racing but this time everyone made it through with Darren Linder leading at the end of the first lap followed by Brea Lopez, Mark Atkinson, Spence Gatrell and Mitch Hoffses in fifth.  On the next lap, both Lopez and Atkinson were able to get by Linder.  By lap five, Spence Gatrell was in third, followed by Hoffses, Tony Seidelman, Linder, Kerstin Smutny, Hoene, Forler and Fisher.  The top three cars were tightly bunched with Lopez holding off a charging Atkinson and Gatrell right behind, occasionally challenging Atkinson.  

 

On the twelfth circuit Hoffses spun, causing a caution flag.  On the restart, the top three continued to pull away slightly from the rest of the field.  Lopez was able to keep Atkinson in second place until lap eighteen of the thirty lap race, when Atkinson was able to get underneath Lopez going down the backstretch.  Once in front, Atkinson was able to gradually increase the distance over Lopez and the rest of the pack.  On lap twenty-one Gatrell pulled to the infield, his night ended with overheating problems. 

 

The final caution of the evening came on lap twenty-five when a souring engine stranded Lopez high in turn two, ending her night.  This put Seidelman in second place, followed by Linder and Smutny.  By the end of the race, Atkinson had built up about a twelve car advantage over Seidelman.  Linder was third followed by Smutny in fourth, Forler and Hoffses.

 

Qualifications:  1. Mark Atkinson,  Atkinson #23 - 13:210, 2. Spence Gatrell, Gatrell #8 – 13.242, 3. Brea Lopez, Press #25 – 13.479, 4. Tony Seidelman, Manners #44 – 13.449  5. Rick Brown, Maples #98 – 13.529,   6. Mitch Hoffses, Hoffses #5 – 13.549,  7. Logan Forler, Forler  #22 – 13.778, 8.Kerstin Smutny, Atkinson #9 – 13.788 , 9. Darren Linder, Linder #6 – 13.942, 10. Dave Hoene, Hoene #24 – 14.163, 11. Dan Fisher, Voss #45 – 14.668

 

A dash: 1. Gatrell, 2. Atkinson, 3. Lopez, 4.  Seidelman

 

B Heat: 1. Hoffses, 2. Forler, 3. Fisher, 4. Linder, 5. Hoene, 6. Smutny

 

A heat: 1. Brown, 2. Seidelman, 3. Lopez, 4. Gatrell, 5. Atkinson

 

Feature:  1. Atkinson, 2. Seidelman, 3. Linder, 4. Smutny, 5. Forler, 6. Hoffses, 7. Fisher, 8. Lopez, 9. Hoene,

10. Gatrell, 11. Brown

 

Margeson Wins Again!

 

July 12

 

By Dolan Lannan

 

Halfway through the 2008 season, Evan Margeson has won half the WMRA feature events run so far this year.  Saturday, Margeson, in the Beal Beast/Pink Ford, passed pole sitter Tony Seidelman on lap six and never looked back enroute to his third WMRA win of the season, at South Sound Speedway.

 

The current runner up in the WMRA points chase, Brea Lopez, driving the Dan Press Beast/Esslinger began the evening, setting fast time with a sizzling 13.168 lap. Both Rick Brown and Mitch Hoffses were unable to qualify because of mechanical woes but the crews were able to get repairs made before the racing began.

 

 In the trophy dash, Margeson grabbed the lead from the outside pole and led every lap for the win.  Behind him were Seidelman , in the Manners Hawk/Sage Chevy, Lopez and rookie Mark Atkinson in the Atkinson Racing Beast/Esslinger.

 

Dave Hoene brought field to the green in the first heat with rookie Dan Fisher on the outside in the Dick Voss Ultramotive/Nissan.  By the end of one circuit, rookie Mitch Hoffses, in the Hoffses Hawk/Profab Chevy had come from his sixth starting position to take second place behind Fisher.  Hoffses grabbed the lead one lap later followed by yet another WMRA rookie, Logan Forler in the Steve Forler Beast/Pink Ford.  Rick Brown got to third on lap three.  The top three positions remained the same for the rest of the race with Doug Kammerzell making his first appearance of the year in the Glen Seidelman owned #4 car, finishing fourth.

 

Heat two saw Spence Gatrell, in the Profab Hawk/Esslinger, jump to the lead over polesitter Kerstin Smutny in the other Atkinson Racing entry.  Gatrell was followed by Margeson, Lopez and Seidelman until a lap four spin put him to the back.  Margeson continued for the win with Lopez, Seidelman, and current WMRA point leader, Atkinson following.

 

In the feature, a number four pill was drawn, inverting the top four and putting Tony Seidelman on the pole with Margeson on the outside of the front row.  Seidelman got the lead at the start followed closely by Margeson, Atkinson, Gatrell, Darren Linder in the family’s TCR/Fontana, and Kammerzell. Brea Lopez was the victim of a small tangle in turn two, as she bounced off a couple of cars, slid up the track and lost about four spots. Seidelman continued in the front spot with Margeson right behind and Atkinson trying every trick in the book to get around Margeson, with Gatrell getting beside Atkinson on a couple of occasions.

 

Atkinson was underneath Margeson on lap five but the first yellow of the race occurred then with Hoene in his own Hawk/VW getting a flat tire. On lap six, 2007 WMRA champ Margeson was able to slip under Seidelman in turn three form the lead.  A lap later Atkinson was able to do the same and Gatrell got under Seidelman in turn one of the eighth lap. 

 

For quite a few laps Atkinson continued to pressure Margeson with Gatrell only a car length or two behind.  At this point in the race, Lopez was clearly the fastest car on the track, as she got her way to fourth and rapidly made up about ten car lengths to challenge the leaders.  On lap fifteen, in perhaps the best battle of the evening, Lopez got under Gatrell in turn three only to have Gatrell get back by her coming down the front stretch.  Lopez repeated her pass a lap later, this time for good. 

 

After two yellow flags on lap eighteen, Margeson stretched his lead slightly over Atkinson with Lopez right behind.  With about three laps to go, Margeson slowed just a bit with a blistering tire and Atkinson was able to go back on the attack. On turn four of the last lap Gatrell slowing with a badly blistered right rear, Hoffses and Forler got together with Gatrell spinning, dropping him from fifth place to tenth.   The race ended with Margeson crossing the line just ahead of Atkinson and Lopez.   Seidelman was fourth, followed by Hoffses, Forler, Brown, Smutny and Linder.

 

Qualifications:  1. Brea Lopez, Press #25 – 13.168, 2. Mark Atkinson,  Atkinson #23 - 13:234, 3. Evan Margeson, Beal #50 – 13.268, 4. Tony Seidelman, Manners #44 – 13.449, 5. Spence Gatrell, Gatrell #8 – 13.499, 6. Kerstin Smutny, Atkinson #9 – 13.543, 7. Darren Linder, Linder #6 – 13.547,  8. Logan Forler, Forler  #22 – 13.729, 9. Doug Kammerzell, Seidelman #4  - 13.794, 10. Dan Fisher, Voss #45 – 13.942, 11. Dave Hoene, Hoene #24 – 14.237, 12. Rick Brown, Maples #98 – NT, 13. Mitch Hoffses, Hoffses #5 – NT

 

Dash: 1. Margeson, 2. Seidelman, 3. Lopez, 4. Atkinson

 

B Heat:  1. Hoffses, 2. Forler, 3. Brown, 4. Kammerzell, 5. Fisher, 6. Linder, 7. Hoene

 

A Heat: 1. Margeson, 2. Lopez, 3. Seidelman, 4. Atkinson, 5. Gatrell, 6. Smutny

 

Feature: 1. Margeson, 2. Atkinson, 3. Lopez, 4.  Seidelman, 5. Hoffses, 6. Forler, 7. Brown, 8. Smutny, 9. Linder, 10. Gatrell, 11. Kammerzell, 12. Fisher, 13. Hoene

 

Atkinson Wins in Surprising Race at Agassiz

 

July 19

 

By Dolan Lannan

 

Mark Atkinson winning a feature race is becoming a little less surprising as the WMRA season progresses.  The seventeen year old WMRA rookie has now won three features in seven starts with the club.  The way he won last Saturday was surprising though, spinning out near the midpoint of the race and coming back through the field for the victory in the black Atkinson Racing #23 car.

 

The first WMRA visit to Agassiz Speedway in Agassiz, BC since the 1970s started with seven cars getting under the previous all time track record  during qualifying.  Atkinson set a fast time of 12.984, beating out Evan Margeson by .002 seconds.  This is over 8/10 of a second faster than any car had previously circled the oval.  Tony Seidelman got third quick time in Dave Hoene’s #24 Hawk/VW after his regular ride, the Manners #44 locked up during hot laps, sending the car into the turn one wall and doing serious damage to the car.

 

In the trophy dash Dallas Melby, visiting from his new home in Ohio, started on the pole in Glen Seidelman’s #4 and held off Margeson for the win despite a missing engine which plagued the team all evening.  Following them were Seidelman and Atkinson.

 

Heat one had all visiting Canadians in the race, Dolly Klatt ran her Beast/Focus #2, Keith Davidson was in his  #52 and Bob Pratt drove Davidson’s #60.  Jeremiah Franklin chauffeured the Dick Voss #45 and Troy Globe was in his dad, Brian’s #11.  Davidson started on the pole, but Pratt was able to get the lead by the end of the first lap followed by Franklin and Troy Globe.  On turn four of lap two, Globe gained some momentum and he was able to dart from his third place spot to the lead by turn one.  He remained in front for the win, followed by Pratt, Franklin, Davidson and Klatt.

 

Melby was unable to start the second heat, moving Seidelman to the outside of Kerstin Smutny in the Atkinson Racing #9, in row one.  Margeson was able to come from the second row to first place by the end of lap one followed by Atkinson and Seidelman.  A lap two spin by Atkinson halted the action and sent him to the back.   On the sixth circuit, while still leading, the brake rear brake pads popped out of the Harold Beal #50 car, sending Margeson hard into the wall and ending his night.  Seidelman went on for the win followed by Atkinson and Smutny.

 

The feature race had quite a few surprises, starting with Globe jumping out to a sizable lead from his pole starting position in his underpowered Ford Focus car.  After a lap Melby was in second with Seidelman in third.  On the fifth circuit, Seidelman and Atkinson were able to get around Melby for second and third, leaving them about six car lengths behind Globe.  Following Melby at this point were Smutny, Franklin and Pratt.  It took two laps for Seidelman to narrow the gap on Globe, with Atkinson right behind.  On the eighth round, Seidelman was able to grab the lead with Atkinson getting by Globe a lap later.  At this point, Melby’s night ended with his recurring motor woes. 

 

The only yellow flag of the event occurred on lap fourteen,  when Atkinson looped his car in turn one while trying to get by Seidelman.  On the restart it was Seidelman followed by Globe, Smutny and Franklin.

 

For the next few laps Seidelman steadily increased his lead, making it look like another surprising outcome was in the making, a VW powered midget in victory circle.  By the twentieth lap of the thirty lap event Seidelman had built up over a ten car lead over Globe.  Meanwhile, Atkinson had other ideas.  After working his way through the field, he passed Globe on lap twenty-one and started nibbling away at Seidelman’s lead.  By lap twenty-five Atkinson had closed the gap and he was doing what he could to get by the #24 car.  After finding no success on the low side, Atkinson went to the top, getting outside Seidelman in turns three and four on lap twenty-eight.  The two stayed side by side until the back stretch when Seidelman had to let up slightly for two lapped cars while Atkinson was able to weave his way between them and go on for the win.  Seidelman was second with Globe, Smutny and Franklin rounding out the top five.

 

Qualifying:  1. Mark Atkinson,  Atkinson #23 – 12.984, 2. Evan Margeson, Beal #50 – 12.986, 3. Tony Seidelman, Hoene #24 – 13.156  4. Dallas Melby, Seidelman #4 – 13.214,  5 . Kerstin Smutny, Atkinson #9 – 13.497,  6. Troy Globe, Globe #11 – 13.584, 7. Jeremiah Franklin, Voss #45 – 13.816 , 8. Dolly Klatt, Klatt/Franklin #2 – 14.639,  9. Bob Pratt, Davidson – 14.689, 10. Keith Davidson, Davidson #52 – 14.770, 11. Tony Seidelman, Manners #44 – NT

 

Trophy Dash: 1. Melby, 2. Margeson, 3. Seidelman, 4. Atkinson

 

Heat 1: 1. Globe, 2. Pratt, 3. Franklin, 4. Davidson, 5. Klatt

 

Heat 2: 1. Seidelman, 2. Atkinson, 3. Smutny, 4. Margeson

 

Feature: 1. Atkinson, 2. Seidelman, 3. Globe, 4. Smutny, 5. Franklin, 6. Davidson, 7. Klatt, 8. Pratt, 9. Melby